Pannell, Wilber and Thompson Named Players of the Week

BOSTON (August 11, 2014)- Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced Week 14’s Warrior Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week and the Cascade Rookie of the Week today.

This week, Rob Pannell earned offensive honors for his leadership on the field in New York’s overtime triumph over the Denver Outlaws, as well as a five-point performance. Ohio defenseman Dana Wilber was outstanding in the Machine’s victory over the Launch, holding the Florida offense to only 10 goals, and helping to get his team to the playoffs. Rookie Miles Thompson put up a season high five goals in Rochester’s win against Boston.

Pannell was named the Warrior Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, previously earning the title in Week 10. In an important game for the Lizards, Pannell totaled two goals and three assists, and played an important role behind the cage. Known for his leadership skills, Pannell managed to settle the New York offense, allowing them to score and ultimately top the Outlaws in the end.

In a must-win game for the Machine, Wilber put on an impressive performance while covering some of Florida’s top attackmen. Wilber earned the Warrior Defensive Player of the Week title for his tight defense and role in keeping the Launch to only 10 goals. With the entire season on the line, Wilber ensured that his team would not be outscored, and he even picked up a groundball while helping the Machine secure a playoff spot.

Thompson had his best performance of the season, earning the Cascade Rookie of the Week title for his six-point effort. On a team full of offensive firepower, Thompson proved that he belonged among the best, scoring five goals (more than any other player in the game), and tallying one assist. Thompson assisted his team in securing the Rattlers’ #1 Seed and home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

In this weekend’s semifinals, Thompson and the Rattlers will host Wilber’s Machine squad in the first playoff game on Saturday, August 16 at 3 p.m. (ET) at Wegman’s Stadium. Pannell and the Lizards will travel to Denver to face the Outlaws in the second semifinal game on Saturday, August 16 at 5:30 p.m. (ET) at University of Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. You can watch both semifinals games on CBS Sports Network.